Our Times: Orange County Communities

Huntington Beach

The Huntington Beach City School District and its teachers association reached a tentative contract agreement Monday night after a six-month impasse.

The two-year collective-bargaining agreement between the district and the Huntington Beach Elementary Teachers Assn. provides for a salary increase of 1% plus cost of living for the 1999-2000 school year, retroactive to last July, Assistant Supt. Kathy Kessler said.

For the 2000-01 school year, teachers will also get a raise of 1% plus cost of living, but that raise won't take effect until February, she said. A supplemental retirement package is also part of the new agreement.

The contract still needs to be ratified by association members and the school board.